Dental diets have two mechanisms of action – '''mechanical''' and '''chemical'''. Some diets contain patented fibre matrix technology which allows the kibble to maintain contact with the [[:Category:Teeth - Anatomy & Physiology|tooth]] surface, providing mechanical cleansing. There are no abrasives or active chemicals in the kibble. Standard dry pet foods immediately crumble when chewed therefore providing little mechanical removal of plaque compared to this kibble. Other dental diets have kibbles that are of a larger size than their standard kibble and claim to have a mechanical plaque removing effect through the kibble texture shape. Some dental diets also claim to control dental accumulations by the addition of sodium tripolyphosphate to the kibble. Sodium tripolyphosphate binds to salivary calcium, resulting in less available for tartar formation. | Dental diets have two mechanisms of action – '''mechanical''' and '''chemical'''. Some diets contain patented fibre matrix technology which allows the kibble to maintain contact with the [[:Category:Teeth - Anatomy & Physiology|tooth]] surface, providing mechanical cleansing. There are no abrasives or active chemicals in the kibble. Standard dry pet foods immediately crumble when chewed therefore providing little mechanical removal of plaque compared to this kibble. Other dental diets have kibbles that are of a larger size than their standard kibble and claim to have a mechanical plaque removing effect through the kibble texture shape. Some dental diets also claim to control dental accumulations by the addition of sodium tripolyphosphate to the kibble. Sodium tripolyphosphate binds to salivary calcium, resulting in less available for tartar formation. |